Whether gambling online is a serious pastime for you or a casual hobby, choosing between your hundreds of online casinos available online today can be rather intimidating. In the end, every online gamer has their own unique personality, likes, dislikes and preferred games. In the same way every player is different, so are online casinos. Below are the fundamentals to consider when doing your research for an online casino that will meet your gambling needs and then some.
It’s All About the Games
When it comes to online casinos, I come to play and I play to win. But first of all, I come to play. That means that you’re not going to stick around playing a casino game you don’t enjoy. Although you may play a game common to all or any casinos like poker, if the interface is weak you’re all but guaranteed to produce a fast “exit.”
Because online casinos only feature games where wagers are participating, you might think your alternatives are limited, nevertheless, you couldn’t be farther from the reality. Many companies pride themselves on thinking outside the box and offering new and innovative games that raise the bar regarding graphics, sound and playability. This is a good idea to get a concept of which online casinos carry games that you are thinking about playing. Companies like Rival and Cryptologic are just two of the many top online casino software providers that push the envelope with every game they put out.
Also understand that each software provider has their own style. Rival, as I mentioned previously, has stellar games, but tends to cater to the younger crowd of online casino players. They focus more on graphics and games that appeal to “video gamers” more than anyone else. Where as Cryptologic has a knack when planning on taking classic games and making them fresh and exciting again.
Banking Features
Naturally people when playing online, one really wants to make sure that they are able to access their money as quickly and conveniently as possible. Most online casinos offer simple depositing processes whereby you deposit money into an account for use within that one online casino. Still, not every casino operates the same way. RTG and Playtech incorporate their very own software solutions to manage money while Cryptologic uses “Ecash.”
Look for Peer Reviews
An online casino will tell you anything and everything to get you to gamble at their online casino. Is it possible to blame them? They would like to make money. It is in their best interest to sell their online casino as the biggest and the very best. Therefore, your best bet on researching an online casino would be to seek out customer reviews on gambling review websites.
Online gamers are passionate concerning the casinos they love and venomous towards those they hate. Before spending a dime, it behooves you to read some reviews and take advantage of the experience of others. You can find so many sites on the market offering top-notch, alternative party reviews of online casinos. Despite the fact that you will be gambling at the casino, it is best not to gamble on a casino.
Beware of SUBSCRIBE Bonuses
Sign up bonuses as far as I’m concerned will be the candy a shady stranger uses to lure a kid into a van. They say nothing for the web casino’s game-play or customer service. I shall use another simile. They’re like an ad incentive from a car dealership put out there to draw suckers into the clutches of salesman. Bottom line, there’s always a catch. In the aforementioned scenarios you either get kidnapped or have the old “switcharoo” pulled on you and end up paying way more than you wanted for an automobile.
Online casinos are no different. Usually the sign up bonus will offer some exorbitant amount of free money. That’s what it says at first glance. But what they don’t tell you is that if you would like that money to pay off, you will have to pay an even more exorbitant amount in wagers and soon you meet your minimum that lets you cash out…for those who have any winnings that is.
Are You a Mac or a PC?
While each online casino is PC friendly, exactly the same cannot be said for Macintosh computers. However, online casino bosses aren’t blind and several have developed platforms that are compatible with both PC and the rising amount of Mac users. So if you’re on a Mac, your choice is fairly limited. If you are on a PC, the online casino world can be your oyster.
ECOGRA Certified Casinos
There are a number of third-party online casino watchdogs out there, every one of them monitoring the casinos to see that they are playing fair. The most trusted of them all is eCogra (short for eCommerce Online Gaming Regulation and Assurance). There is absolutely no way to ensure that any online casino is absolutely fair 100% of the time. However, since a casino is certified by eCogra is the greatest way to know that play is as fair as possible.
There are other names on the market, but none as universally trusted as eCogra. While toto 88 may certainly do their job in addition to if not much better than eCogra, their reputation is certainly strongest. In theory, anyone could take up a watchdog company and develop a seal. By choosing an eCogra certified casino, you know they stake their reputation on the truth that your gaming experience is a fair one.
Know the Law
Even though it shouldn’t be, online gambling is basically prohibited in many places, america included. In those places where it is legal, it is highly regulated. Therefore, whether online gambling is legal in your area or not, it is important to know the law before you begin spending. An online casino allowing you access does not indicate that their services are legal where you are. It is problematic for governments to regulate the internet and often the player may be the one at an increased risk. If your funds are seized, the casino has their money already since it is legal for most casinos to accept deposits. So prior to making a deposit, look into online gambling laws specific to your geographical area for a hassle-free gaming experience.